SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1879 . 
587 
As this number of tools would add a considerable weight, if carried 
on the carriages, it would be as well to have a two-horse cart for them, 
to manoeuvre with the wagons of the battery, so as to be close at hand 
when required. 
At present, a battery would take at least double the minimum time 
necessary for entrenching itself, or else have to obtain extra tools from 
the infantry or engineers. Now, the former have generally quite 
enough work for their own establishment of tools, and the latter are 
not always close at hand. 
The importance of artillery being able to entrench themselves 
quickly is greatest during a retreat, when forming part of a rear 
guard. An hour’s digging may then have the effect of causing several 
hours’ delay to the enemy; and, as a rule, much time will not be avail¬ 
able for work on these occasions. 
If, as some think, entrenchments are to play a great part in future 
wars, the entrenching tool will become one of the most important 
items of equipment. With an extended use of entrenchments, battles 
will be rarely decided in one day, unless the attacker weakens himself 
so severely on the first day as to be forced to retire; but we may 
expect to see the attacker proceed with greater caution, and, knowing 
the danger of throwing himself against an entrenched position, take 
more time over the preparatory stage of the attack. Should battles 
last more than one day, we shall expect to find batteries or other cover 
thrown up during the night at the important points, from which fire 
can be concentrated on the tactical pivots of the enemy’s line of 
defence, advantage being taken of the darkness to push forward the 
guns to points which they could not reach during daylight except 
under great losses from long-range infantry fire, and artillery fire from 
guns strongly entrenched. It is more than probable that in the next 
great European war we shah see battles of several days’ duration, in 
which artillery will play a great part. 
The attack of an entrenched position is daily becoming more hopeless, 
unless steadily and systematically carried out; and leaders of armies 
will, if they hope to be successful, feel compelled to be more cautious 
and patient, unless they are prepared to suffer enormous losses, and 
thus uselessly sacrifice their men. Patience is not one of the least 
qualities necessary to make a good General. 
B. 3 .—As with guns of the same class an increase in calibre is 
accompanied by a corresponding decrease in mobility, there are two 
chief points to be considered in this question. 
1. What proportion of the field artillery should consist of heavier 
calibres. 
2. What is the heaviest gun that can be used without entirely 
destroying the mobility of the battery, and how far it is 
desirable to sacrifice mobility in order to obtain greater shell 
power. 
1. The requirements of armies acting on the offensive, as in the case 
of invasion, and on the defensive, as in the case of repelling the invader 
